Chapter Chairs

Our Chapter Chairs’ primary purpose is to ensure a supportive environment that allows members as they do their best thinking, as well as share their experiences and best practices for the benefit of their groups. Chairs are responsible for ensuring  full participation by all members, cultivating shared responsibility, and encouraging accountability and respect.

Our recent member survey found that Innovators members ranked the monthly Chapter meeting as the most valuable part of their membership, and Chairs play a pivotal role in creating an inclusive environment that will build and sustain great businesses.

Paul Hogendoorn

Founder, Investor, Entrepreneur

Paul is an experienced entrepreneur, having co-founded and helped build successful companies that each established a strong brand and reputation internationally, serving multiple market segments including manufacturing, environmental technologies, internet technologies, and major league sports. As part of his entrepreneurial endeavours, he helped these companies acquire 13 patents, establish autonomous satellite operations in the US, Mexico and China, establish direct relationships with the NHL, NFL and NBA, deploy critical solutions in 2 Olympic games, and develop and deploy technology now in use in over 100 factories worldwide. Paul helped launch the London Region Manufacturing Council in 2004 and served as its chair for 6 years. He’s served on boards of various local youth focused organizations, including London YFC and WAYS.

Dundee Staunton

Director, Decision Point Research

Dundee Staunton is an experienced entrepreneur, having owned and managed several businesses, and has served on several public and private boards.  He is currently a director of Decision Point Research, which provides data collection and research analysis to firms globally, and of The Mosaic Institute, a charitable organization which equips communities with tools to dismantle prejudice.

Dundee has been a member of Innovators Alliance since 2000. He served on the Board of Directors for several years, and was Chair from 2013-2016.

Dave McLeod

CEO Coach, Business Transition & Exit Planning

Having experience as an entrepreneur himself, Dave brings first-hand knowledge in growing businesses to Innovators Alliance, with a passion for team building and strategic execution.

Dave brings extensive business experience in logistics, transportation and software as service companies.  Having spent over 25 years developing and executing sales strategies, improving operational efficiencies or driving sales via digital marketing strategies, Dave brings his diverse business background to assist Innovator Alliance members in meeting their goals.

Dave is a Business graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is focused on supporting entrepreneurs by addressing their company’s needs, helping improve performance, and assisting in driving growth.  After a successful exit from his last business, Dave spent 8-years working with hundreds of Ontario business owners in his role of Senior Client Partner, BDC Advisory Services. Dave now focuses on helping business owners maximize their equity and plan for efficient transition and exit.

In his spare time, Dave can be found travelling, golfing or sometimes doing both at the same time.   The recent birth of his first grandson will provide a new focus on developing the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs!

Deborah Jann

Rollout Innovation

For over 20 years, Deborah has worked with leaders and teams across many sectors to turn culture into performance and drive profitable growth through innovation. Having lived and worked as an Educator in Europe and Asia, Deborah also draws on her international experience to help leaders challenge assumptions and embrace diverse perspectives that lead to exceptional personal and professional results.

Her extensive knowledge of organizational effectiveness, entrepreneurship and sales and marketing, as well as a warm and engaging style, are traits that make her highly effective as a facilitator and personal effectiveness coach.

Currently, Deborah is VP, Client Experience and Growth for Connective Intelligence Inc. enabling her to help CEOs, HR and business leaders quantify a company’s cultural mindset to support leadership and organizational performance.

Deborah holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from Western University. She is a graduate of the Innovation and Design Thinking Program through the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and is recognized by the Creative Education Foundation as a Master Facilitator of Creative Problem Solving. She is certified on numerous assessments, including the Rhodes’ Thinking-Styles Profile™, Emotional Power™ and The Resilience Questionnaire™, around which she developed an internationally acclaimed business resilience program.

Deborah volunteers for Daily Bread Food Bank, Halton Region and the Strategic Capability Network, where she also serves as Board member.

It's been 10 ten years since we joined the Alliance and I have to say, we've grown tremendously since then. The straight up advice and genuine care I've received from my Chapter-mates has been invaluable for our growth path especially now as we grow and expand around the world. I'm looking forward to sharing even more... Read More

Sharron Gilbert – Kitchener Waterloo Chapter Member
Septimatech Group Inc.

Innovators Alliance has helped me better manage and grow my business because of the environment of trust that is built up within the peer-to-peer meetings. My chapter members are intelligent and always prepared to voice their opinions on subjects that are concerning to me. The advice received is very valuable, but... Read More

Peter Allen – Kitchener Waterloo Chapter Member
Electrical Contracts Limited

I have learned so many solutions specific to the issue we were experiencing at a particular stage of our growth. The meetings and interactions are just as valuable now as when I joined in 2007. Frankly, no matter what combination of business maturity and revenue growth you've achieved, I can't imagine why you wouldn't... Read More

P.J. Ferguson – Halton Chapter
ABL Employment

In my industry innovation is what it's ALL about. It doesn't matter if we're coming up with new products, finding ways to make existing products more efficiently or developing new ways to create a better supply chain... it's all innovation. The mentorship provided by my Chapter-mates has been so real and so bang-on... Read More

Bud Morris – Markham Chapter Member
Canada's Best Store Fixtures Inc.

Innovators Alliance has a unique tool - the "Innovation Journey" - which helps companies craft their Innovation strategy, focus innovation efforts on the areas of greatest return, and keep aligned on this quest for innovation. In our company, the "Innovation Journey" helped us understand which areas of Innovation... Read More

Steve McGowan – Markham Chapter Member
Matias Corporation